Georgia Institute of Technology

Situation Overview:

ZRG has been engaged to recruit a Director of Facilities Operations for Georgia Institute of Technology, a leading public research university committed to advancing technology and improving the human condition.

About Georgia Institute of Technology:

Georgia Tech was Founded in 1885, the Institute combines rigorous academics with a culture of innovation, service, and global impact. More than 53,000 students from all 50 states and over 146 countries study here, preparing to shape industries and strengthen communities.

Mission

The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university established by the state of Georgia in Atlanta in 1885 and committed to developing leaders who advance technology and improve the human condition.

Values

Their values are foundational in everything they do. They are their lodestar. Values define who they are and who they aspire to be as a community. They help them make decisions. They refer to an inclusive “we” and apply to every member of the Georgia Tech community - student, faculty, staff, alumni, and affiliate. No matter the role, the values are meant to guide their priorities every day, to help them focus on their important, shared mission.

1. Students are their top priority.

They are educators first and foremost, committed to developing leaders who advance technology and improve the human condition. They measure success by the achievements of their students and the impact of their graduates in improving the lives of others.

2. They strive for excellence.

They strive to be among the best at what they do and to set high expectations for each of them individually and for the community as a whole. The expectation of excellence, which is instrumental to their ability to have a meaningful impact in the world, extends to their teaching, research and creative endeavors, athletic programs, and operations.

3. They thrive on diversity.

They see diversity of backgrounds and perspectives as essential to learning, discovery, and creation. They strive to remove barriers to access and success, and to build an inclusive community where people of all backgrounds have the opportunity to learn and contribute to their mission.

4. They celebrate collaboration.

They enable and celebrate collaboration across disciplines and perspectives, between units and departments, and with other organizations at home and around the world. They value the contributions of all members of their community, promote civil and respectful discourse, and help one another succeed.

5. They champion innovation.

They inspire, empower, and provide the resources and environment for innovative ideas and solutions to flourish. They welcome new concepts and approaches that lead to creative ideas and solutions.

6. They safeguard freedom of inquiry and expression.

They protect the freedom of all members of the community to ask questions, seek truth, and express their views. They cherish diversity of ideas as necessary for learning, discovery, scholarship, and creativity.

7. They nurture the well-being of the community.

They strive to build a healthy and vibrant environment that helps their students and every member of the community grow holistically and develop the self-awareness, knowledge, and practices necessary to pursue healthy, purposeful, fulfilling lives.

8. They act ethically.

They hold one another to the highest standards of professional and ethical conduct. They are transparent and accountable and strive to earn and maintain the public trust.

9. They are responsible stewards.

They are careful stewards of the resources they are entrusted with and strive to be an example of sustainability, efficiency, respect, and responsibility.

Vision

Over the next decade, Georgia Tech will become an example of inclusive innovation, a leading technological research university of unmatched scale, relentlessly committed to serving the public good; breaking new ground in addressing the biggest local, national, and global challenges and opportunities of their time; making technology broadly accessible; and developing exceptional, principled leaders from all backgrounds ready to produce novel ideas and create solutions with real human impact.

They will deliver on this vision by building an outstanding and diverse community of learning, discovery, and creation in an inclusive and collaborative environment focused on innovation and access. They will develop healthy and vibrant learning environments that support holistic learning and personal growth.

They will be leaders in educational innovation and develop a global learning platform of unmatched impact and scale to support learners throughout their life journeys. They will challenge themselves to push the boundaries of research while focusing on the most consequential questions and problems faced by humanity. And they will act as a creative engine that will position their city and state as examples of inclusive entrepreneurship and innovation.

Colleges

• College of Computing
• College of Design
• College of Engineering
• College of Lifetime Learning
• College of Sciences
• Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts
• Scheller College of Business

Position:

The Director of Facilities Operations is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the maintenance and custodial services for the unit. This role requires strong leadership skills, technical knowledge, and the ability to manage teams consisting of skilled tradespeople, maintenance technicians, and custodial staff.

The Director will direct the operations and maintenance for the department's diverse portfolio of campus facilities to include offices, student lounges and recreation spaces, residential student rooms, suites, and apartments. The Director will also direct the daily maintenance needs, preventative maintenance strategy and oversight for a year-round, 24/7 operation.

Services managed include skilled trades (carpentry, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing); general maintenance. They will be responsible for ensuring the unit managed facilities are well maintained, leading a team, setting employee goals, assessing employee performance, and providing feedback, and making pay recommendations.

The Director will interact on a consistent basis with the unit and other Institute management, contractors, and students. This position will generally advise and counsel the unit and other Institute management, contractors, and students

Position Description:

• Provide leadership for the planning, direction, coordination, and supervision of residential facilities management daily operations;
• Manage and oversee all personnel actions for direct and indirect reports; including the learning and development of individuals and teams; experience supervising multiple trade staff including selecting, training, motivating, and providing corrective action up to and including dismissal;
• Leadership to mentor and develop professional staff;
• Develop and implement processes and procedures for the facilities operations to ensure consistent quality standards are met; manage quality assurance programs to ensure work is completed to the unit standards and monitor adherence;
• Develop and maintain relationships with external contractors, vendors, and suppliers to ensure the availability of necessary equipment and materials; to include contract establishment and management;
• Manages, reviews, assesses, and prioritizes work order completion for the unit facilities department. Develop and implement defined maintenance plans; collaboration on annual surge plans to ensure buildings are turned and maintenance is performed between semesters for new residents' arrival;
• Collaborate with unit facilities leadership team to establish capital planning priorities based on workorder history data, facilities condition assessment data, etc.;
• Oversee and manage facility conditions and improvements using Facility Condition Assessment Reports (FCAR) and work order trends;
• Manage the creation and oversight of staffing schedules to include 24/7 support of residential buildings. Serve in an on-call rotation, utilizing an Institute issued mobile device;
• Ensure that all maintenance and custodial services are compliant with all applicable regulations, codes, and safety standards;
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience in Engineering, Facilities Management, or similar field;
• Certification, License or Permits:
  
  • Current, valid, and unrestricted Georgia Driver's License;
  • Certified Education Facilities Professional (CEFP);
  • Facilities Management Professional (FMP).
• Seven to nine years of job-related experience;
• Knowledge, Skills & Abilities to perform this position includes but are not limited to:
  
  • Familiar with request for proposals (RFPs), request for quotes (RFQs);
  • Experience working with Metasys, AiM, StarRez, and similar software packages;
  • Experience managing facilities contracts;
  • Experience writing Statement of Works (SOW);
  • Able to handle multiple tasks or projects at one time meeting assigned deadlines;
  • Excellent interpersonal, initiative, teamwork, problem solving, independent judgment, organization, communication (verbal and written), time management, project management and presentation skills;
  • Proficient with computer applications and programs associated with the position (i.e., Microsoft Office suite);
  • Strong attention to detail and follow up skills;
  • Strong customer service skills and phone and e-mail etiquette.

Georgia Tech provides equal opportunity to all faculty, staff, students, and all other members of the Georgia Tech community, including applicants for admission and/or employment, contractors, volunteers, and participants in institutional programs, activities, or services.

Georgia Tech complies with all applicable laws and regulations governing equal opportunity in the workplace and in educational activities.

Georgia Tech prohibits discrimination, including discriminatory harassment, on the basis of race, ethnicity, ancestry, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetics, or veteran status in its programs, activities,

employment, and admissions. This prohibition applies to faculty, staff, students, and all other members of the Georgia Tech community, including affiliates, invitees, and guests.

Location:

Atlanta, GA offers a vibrant blend of big-city energy and Southern charm, with diverse neighborhoods, lush tree-lined streets, and a strong sense of community. The city is known for its rich cultural scene, professional sports, thriving food landscape, and deep musical and historical roots, making there always something to explore. Atlanta’s growing economy attracts professionals across industries like technology, media, healthcare, and finance, while its many parks, trails, and nearby nature provide plenty of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. With a welcoming atmosphere, a dynamic social scene, and a balance of urban life and green space, Atlanta is an exciting and rewarding place to call home.

Georgia Institute of Technology in the News:

March 18, 2026
Bracketology Driven by Data‍

March 18, 2026

New Honorees Announced for Campus Installation

March 18, 2026

New Mobile App Turns Phones into At-Home Fetal Heart Monitors

March 17, 2026

Chef and Humanitarian José Andrés Receives Ivan Allen Jr. Prize for Social Courage

March 12, 2026

A Successful USDA Program That Has Supported More Than 533,000 Affordable Rental Homes in Rural America is Getting Phased Out

Click here to read more on Georgia Institute of Technology’s News page.

Interview Process:  

ZRG provides our global Clients with a rigorous and patented assessment platform grounded in data and analytics. Our interview process includes the following:

1. Initial interviews with ZRG
2. ZRG presentation of candidates to Client for calibration and discussion; Client selects candidates for consideration and initial interviews
3. Candidates complete ZRG’s on-line assessment
4. Finalist candidates advance to second and third round interviews with broader leadership team
5. Formal referencing
6. Offer extended

About ZRG Partners:

ZRG is a global talent advisory firm that is changing the way companies hire and manage talent. ZRG’s data-driven approach to executive and professional search has been changing the way clients think about how to find top talent. The company’s digital Zi platform combines talent intelligence, candidate insights, and process improvement to dramatically deliver executive searches quicker and with proven better results.

Jim Lord
Managing Director

jlord@zrgpartners.com

+1.412.756.3519

As Managing Director, Jim performs client development and manages a team of consultants. He also plays an instrumental role in shaping ZRG's strategic vision and enhancing our executive search capabilities.

A ZRG team member since 1998, Jim has had the opportunity to represent organizations within all of ZRG's focus disciplines. In addition to securing professionals for higher education and healthcare clients, he conducts and manages mid-to senior-level searches for general, heavy civil, and specialty construction firms, as well as real estate developers.

Gene Head

Managing Director, Education Practice Leader ghead@zrgpartners.com

+1.205.718.7889

Gene Head is a Managing Director specializing in Higher Education Leadership and Global Non- Profit organizations. His expertise spans strategic leadership and economic development, areas in which he has built a strong record of success.

Driven by determination and a deep commitment to strategic alignment, Gene has led more than 300 executive searches for positions including CEO, COO, CFO, and Vice President. His clients include the University of California System, the University of Alabama Community College System, the University of Texas at Austin, the United Nations, International Justice Mission, Compassion International, Mercy Ships, the Berkeley National Laboratory, and numerous private foundations worldwide.

Throughout his career, Gene has intentionally focused on developing and preparing executive leaders across diverse sectors. He has advised clients in high-potential leadership development, succession planning, and large-scale organizational assessment and evaluation. Recognized as an expert in sustainable transformation, his work centers on enterprise-wide change initiatives, C-suite development, and building high-performing, strategically aligned executive teams within Higher Education and the global Non-Profit sector. The large number of repeat clients in his portfolio reflects the lasting impact of his work.

Gene’s collaborative efforts extend across Higher Education, corporate, and healthcare organizations, as well as the U.S. Departments of Education, Energy, Agriculture, and Commerce, where he contributes to advancing a jobs-driven national economy.

He earned a Bachelor of Science in Management from the Brock School of Business at Samford University, where he also serves on the Advisory Board. Gene is active on several non-profit boards, including one dedicated to missions and economic development initiatives in Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Malawi.

Clay Brady
Associate
cbrady@zrgpartners.com
+1.216.302.0964

Clay Brady is a dedicated Associate at ZRG Partners and has been with the organization since 2022. With a robust and diverse background across multiple sectors, Clay now focuses on real estate recruitment. He is adept at research, networking, and driving growth through strategic talent acquisition. Clay's passion lies in connecting top-tier talent with transformative opportunities that catalyze organizational growth and success.

Before joining ZRG Partners, Clay built a strong foundation in the finance industry as a licensed Mortgage Loan Originator. His academic background includes a degree in Finance from Fairfield University, which has equipped him with a deep understanding of financial principles and their application in various business contexts.